Phase angle regulated rectifier and pulse producing system

An impulse high voltage generator comprising:

• a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding for stepping up an AC voltage from an AC power source;
• a thyristor connected to said primary winding of said transformer for controlling the AC voltage supplied by said transformer by varying a firing angle;
• a full-wave rectifier connected to said secondary winding of said transformer and having an output;
• a capacitor connected to said output of said rectifier and charging to a DC voltage, a mechanically rotating spark gap connected to said capacitor for supplying a voltage generated in said capacitor to an output terminal;
• a synchronous motor for driving said rotating spark gap;
• frequency converting means for driving said motor in synchronization with a frequency (f) of said AC power source or a frequency obtained by dividing the frequency of the AC power source by an integral number (a conversion ratio);
• setting means for setting up an occurrence frequency of an impulse high voltage;
• and
• control means, responsive to said setting means, for triggering said thyristor at a firing angle in accordance with the occurrence frequency set by said setting means to charge said capacitor and for controlling the conversion ratio n of said frequency converting means to drive said rotating spark gap to conduct during a non-conductive period of said thyristor to supply the voltage developed across said capacitor to said output terminal to develop an impulse high voltage thereat;
• said control means triggering said thyristor in the range of 90.degree. to 180.degree. and 270.degree. to 0.degree. of the AC voltage, said control of the conversion ratio n of said frequency converting means by said control means allowing conduction of said rotating spark gap only in the range of 0.degree. to 90.degree. and 180.degree. to 270.degree. of the AC voltage, said control means thereby enabling conduction of said thyristor and conduction across said rotating spark gap at different times within a single half cycle of the AC voltage.